Lars and Diana have teamed up to launch an international version of Trykkefrihedsselskabet, the International Free Press Society. It’s my great privilege to have been involved in the formation of the organization, and the website for IFPS (freepresssociety.org) is now up and running.

Yesterday’s announcement of the prosecution of Geert Wilders added urgency to the launch of IFPS, since Mr. Wilders is a member of our advisory board. The board also includes the following advisors:

Asger Aamund

Roger Kimball

Bat Ye’or

Ezra Levant

Helle Merete Brix

Andrew C. McCarthy

Stephen Coughlin

Nidra Poller

Rachel Ehrenfeld

Roger Scruton

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.

Kathy Shaidle

David Harris

Sam Solomon

Ole Hasselbalch

Robert Spencer

Ibn Warraq

Mark Steyn

Hans Jansen

Brad Thor

Ehsan Jami

Allen West

Philippe Karsenty

Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi

The mission of the IFPS, like its Danish predecessor, is to champion the right of free expression, especially for those who hold controversial or unpopular opinions. Free speech is under assault all across the Western world, but due to the unprecedented attack on Geert Wilders, our initial focus will be on his case in the Netherlands.

January 22, 2009 — Washington, DC and Copenhagen, Denmark: A Dutch court yesterday ordered the criminal prosecution of Geert Wilders, Dutch parliamentarian and leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), for his statements — written, spoken and filmed -regarding Islam. The Amsterdam Court of Appeals has deemed such statements “insulting,” declaring that they “substantially harm the religious esteem” of Muslims.

Clearly, the effect of this Dutch court order is to set new limits to public debate in Dutch society, in this case about the highly controversial but nonetheless crucially important subject of Islam. This makes the prosecution of Geert Wilders an unacceptable breach of the sanctity of freedom of speech in Western society.

Having ordered a criminal prosecution for the opinions of a duly elected leader of a legitimate political party, Dutch authorities have dealt a devastating blow to political expression. While Dutch prosecutors prepare their indictment and Geert Wilders’ future hangs in limbo, who in The Netherlands will dare discuss political and cultural matters related to Islam — Islamic law, Islamic integration, Islamic crime, Islamic policy — openly, freely and fearlessly? The chilling effect is instantaneous. If, indeed, Wilders is ultimately convicted, free speech will cease to exist in the heart of Europe.

The International Free Press Society believes this court-ordered prosecution against Geert Wilders, a central figure in the fight against the Islamization of the West, amounts to a dangerous concession to the strictures of Islamic law, which prohibits all criticism of Islam, over Western traditions of, and rights to robust and unfettered debate. As such, it is tantamount to a surrender to totalitarian influences that undermine all Western freedoms. And as such, it must be resisted.

It is important to recall recent history. Two Dutchmen, Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh, have been murdered for their outspoken opposition to Islamization in The Netherlands. Another Dutch politician, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, has been infamously forced into exile. Wilders alone now carries this debate over Islam in Dutch society forward — forcefully but logically, outspokenly but reasonably, and always peacefully. In order to do so, this member of Dutch parliament lives in a virtual prison, consigned to 24-hour guard by Islamic death threats against his life. Now, Dutch authorities have ordered him to be prosecuted for the Orwellian crime of committing “insulting” words.

As Wilders puts it, “If I have to stand trial, I will not stand trial alone, but also with the hundreds of thousands of Dutch people who reject the Islamization of The Netherlands.” He will also stand trial with those in The Netherlands and beyond who reject government prosecutions of free speech. In recognition of this dire situation, the IFPS immediately calls on every supporter of free speech to come to the aid of Geert Wildest assist in this effort, the IFPS has launched an international campaign in defense of Geert Wilders and his freedom of speech.

I urge you to visit the IFPS site and sign the petition if you haven’t already done so. You can also register for email alerts. Our plan is to feature the work of writers from all over the world, writings that might otherwise be suppressed.

We’re just getting started. More initiatives and events are in the planning stages, and will be announced in the future.

The very same fellow. He ran against someone who was Jewish, a man awash in Wall Street donations.

I don't think that the Palm Beach, or West Palm Beach, area was a good venue for West. If he could have inserted himself into a congressional district further to the north in Florida, or even in the Panhandle, he'd have had a much better chance.

For one thing, there are more military up there (and over there) and West served with distinction for 30 years. For another, there are lots more plain ol' Florida crackers once you pass Orlando (going North, I mean).

Maybe he had to run in a hostile place because that's actually where he retired. But if he did so, and had been planning a Congressional bid, he wasn't thinking strategically.